222 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



28th. A Linnet's nest with four eggs in Milcombe gorse, 

 which is earl}\ 



May. 



5th. Saw a pair of Common Sandpipers in Port Meadow, 

 Oxford, and three near Eynsham the next da}'. 



7th. Mr. Fowler and I observed the Reed Warbler at Par- 

 son's Pleasure, Oxford, and a Lesser Redpoll, with a beautifully 

 bright red cap, which came down to drink as we stood on the 

 bridge ; we could see no red on the bird's breast. 



13th. Saw a Jay in a spinney on the hill here, and a noisy 

 pair in an ash-holt near Milcombe four days later ; it is quite un- 

 common to find Jays breeding in the small spinneys about here. 



17th. Saw a male Red-backed Shrike on the telegraph-wires 

 at Wickham. 



The Nightingale, which has been appearing again in small 

 numbers in this district the last few years, has been observed this 

 month at Bodicote (two birds), Adderbury, Milcombe, and South 

 Newington. 



I think a good many Swallows perished in the cold and 

 stormy weather this month. 



Mr. Fowler saw a Black-headed Gull, with full dark hood, in 

 Port Meadow this month. 



June. 



17th. I had news from Mr. Fowler that the Marsh Warbler 

 had come back to the same place it haunted last year. 



I heard the Chiffchaff in song continuously up to July 12th, 

 but chiefly very early in the morning in the latter part of the 

 time, and, exceptionally, as late as July 27th in the daytime. Its 

 song ceased then, but recommenced in the last days of August. 



30th. I could see no Crested Grebes on Clattercote Reser- 

 voir, the water having been very low all the season ; there were a 

 few Coots, with young varying from half-grown birds to downy 

 chicks, and two young broods of Wild Ducks. 



July. 



13th. At 11 p.m. I heard the Grasshopper Warbler singing 

 between Hook Norton and Milcombe. 



August. 



9th. A Wheatear in immature plumage was shot near Ban- 

 bury about this date. 





